‘Honey Bucket’ - GG Smash 14

How are you running the 62.5 stroke shock? I have a smash size 3 with a standard 60mm stroke shock and get tire buzz on harsh bottom outs. Do you find this to not be an issue?

So the Jade was a 230x60 that I had on my previous bike, Capra. There was a plastic 2.5mm spacer installed on the shaft below the bottom out bumper that I cut out when it was on that bike during service (since you could run the Capra 29 with more travel), so I estimate the stroke on the Jade to now be 62.5. I've compressed the suspension in the stand during service without the spring and it's got a couple mm to spare, granted need to account for bottom out bumper too. I haven't noticed any tire rub yet or harsh bottom outs taking it off drops, nothing too big like ~6' drop with decent landing. Anyway, I haven't noticed any issues and am rarely bottoming out, I can only think of once or twice I heard/felt it and thought "oh shit".

how are the delium tires treating you?

So far no complaints, I'd buy again. The price is right, shipping was quick, I weighed them and they were pretty much spot on as advertised. They mounted easily, including the rear w/ cushcore. I've been running the Rugged All-Around (working man's assegai) for a couple weeks now (probably ~100mi on it) and it's wearing nicely, just now starting to show signs of wear on the side knobs. We've had a fairly wet summer so it's not been seeing too much of the usual dry, rocky conditions that can wear it more quickly. I just put the rear Versatile Reinforced on last weekend and it feels just like the DHF it replaced.

i've got a similar setup on my DH bike, but both are the reinforced casing. CC front and rear. only bike park use. i have no complaints on them.

Coolest bike kickstand award for sure.

Pedal home from a ride, toss back a couple coldies, bike starts looking good in the stormy light, next thing you know you're doing a photoshoot

It's not a consensual shoot if the bike is intoxicated

Always nice to have a Cold Snack on a hot day!

Always strange to me to see a water bottle you can only get to with your right hand when the rear brake is on the same side of the bars. Which means when rolling, you have to use only your front brake while grabbing a sip of water. I drink with my left hand so I can use the rear brake if something goes screwy or I get off balance, need to check speed, etc.

It's not an issue for me. 99% of the time I'm not drinking while pedaling and if I do go for a drink it's not somewhere I might need to brake like climbing a road or similar.
I've never really thought about it though, now that you point it out maybe I should check out a different bottle cage, hmmm.

I became accutely aware of the difficulty when I bought an Osprey Savu hip pack since my trail bike doesn't have a good place to mount a bottle. My Savu has bottle slots on both hips, but every time I'd grab the right one, I'd find myself maybe cresting a hump or hitting a few bumps and here I am with my left hand on the bars and nothing but a front brake to grab to check up. Or rolling down a brief hill and needing to scrub speed while grabbing a drink.

So now I drink out of the left one and if I empty it and am stopped, I swap the full one to the left hip if I'm hauling that much water on a ride.

I'll often wear an REI butt bag for longer rides where I want more water, and it's got dual bottle baskets, but like you I usually just put a spare bottle in the left one and primarily reach for that while pedaling. I like the right one as just a "junk" pocket (glasses and gloves for the climb, candy wrapper, etc.) I have actually considered a Spec Zee cage w/ the tool, just so I have something on me. I'm fortunate to be able to have some decent ride options right from the house so I can usually get away with riding pretty light.

Bike of the Day August 4, 2022!